USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts > Part 70
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THE STANHOPE MANUFACTURING COMPANY make tinsel yarns and binding twines, lace yarns and crochet cottons.
Chelmsford has good railroad facilities. The New York, New Haven & Hartford (Old Colony System), runs through South Chelmsford and the Centre, connecting at Lowell with the Boston & Maine. The double track line of the Boston & Maine Railroad from Boston to Concord, N. H., skirts the shores of the
671
MANUFACTURING
Merrimack river, with a station at North Chelmsford. The Stony Brook Branch serves the people of West Chelmsford, and connects at North Chelmsford with the main line. A private track runs to the big granite quarries of H. E. Fletcher & Co., at West Chelmsford. Upwards of two miles of side tracks serve the various manufacturing industries located at North Chelmsford, mostly on the Stony Brook road. About 700 cars per month are used in receiving and forwarding the commodities of manufacture. A business of less than $1,000 a month in 1890 has grown to $12,000 per month at the present time. The Bay State Street Railway has a double track from Lowell to North Chelmsford, where connections are made for Ayer and Tyngsborough. Another line runs to Chelmsford Centre.
About the year 1900, the principal industries of North Chelmsford were George C. Moore's mills, where wool scouring and spinning woolen yarns were employing probably 300 hands; the Chelmsford Foundry Co., conducting a business in heavy ornamental cast and wrought iron for building purposes, employing about 100 hands, and the Silver & Gay Machine Shop, manu- facturing textile machinery, such as spinning frames, loopers, ball winders, etc.
The electric car line connecting the village with Lowell had been in operation five or six years at that time, and this connecting link was beginning to make a change in the conditions of life in the village from what it had been for years past, for the industries had depended largely upon the local residents for employees. The accessibility to the city through the improved means of trans- portation has caused the village to grow rapidly in manufacturing and residential buildings.
Within the last sixteen years, many changes have taken place in all lines of public activity. Moore's Mills have changed hands, and are now called the Silesia Mills of the U. S. Worsted Co. The former owner, whose name the mills bore, George C. Moore, has erected new mills slightly up stream on the Stony Brook Railroad, principally for wool washing and spinning. Part of this mill has been occupied for six or seven years by the Lowell Textile Co., which manufactures towels.
One industry which is of considerable importance to the village, is that of the Boston Ice Co., which has ten or twelve large ice houses which it fills from Crystal lake, giving employ- ment to hundreds of hands for a short time each winter, with steady shipping during the summer months to the Boston market.
Many improvements have taken place in the village con- ditions within the last few years, the State Highway known as the Princeton Boulevard from Lowell, having been completed and connected with the New Hampshire State Highway, makes this a main artery for automobiles traveling north to the White Moun- tains and other points of recreation.
672
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
The proposed State Highway along South and North (or Centre) streets through the Centre and North Villages will make a direct route from Boston to New Hampshire.
THE SOUTH VILLAGE.
The South Village is a quiet farming hamlet, not unlike many in New England, with church and school and store, whose stillness is broken only by the locomotive. D. P. Byam manufactures sleighs and sleds. For an account of the manufacture of the first lucifer matches see page 595.
The Daniel Gage Ice Company has ice houses at Heart pond.
THE EAST VILLAGE.
The East Village seems to be absorbed into the City of Lowell, yet, unlike the city, it has no manufactories.
THE WEST VILLAGE.
Ninety years ago, there were only three houses in West Chelmsford, including Westford Corner. One street ran through it from North Chelmsford to Westford. The nearest way to the Centre Village was by a bridge across Stony brook near Brook- side.
Soon after 1820, Deacon John Farwell from Fitchburg, an en- terprising scythe maker, with an old-fashioned family of smart boys and girls, rented the Farrar house, one of the three mentioned, bought land and the water privilege upon Stony brook, built a factory, and carried on a lucrative business for about twenty years, making scythes. He and his son each built a dwelling house, as did George Messenger, one of Farwell's employees. Elias, brother of George, a brick mason, built his house of brick. The village was known as Farwell, until after the building of the railroad, and it was also called Scythe Factory Village.
From 1,500 to 2,000 dozen scythes were turned out annually, from which was realized from $15,000 to $20,000. In the spring of 1844, Deacon Farwell gave up the business to his sons and son- in-law, who, two years later, sold the real estate to Lincoln Drake of North Chelmsford, and removed the machinery to Fitchburg. Drake sold to F. T. Sawyer, who sold a half interest to Christopher Roby. Roby, Sawyer & Company refurnished the plant and manufactured scythes.
The factory was destroyed by fire, but was soon rebuilt. In 1853, Mr. Sawyer retired, and the business was then conducted under the name of C. Roby & Co. The market for these goods was largely in the Southern and border States, and when the war broke out, in 1861, this company found their trade destroyed, and, in addition to that, suffered the loss of most of their goods which had been shipped during the previous winter.
Hildreth Dutton
Baptist Church
Otis Adams
School No 1
M P. Didansan
E.F Webster
Mrs. Kittridge
Parkhursty Common
Warren Plint
4.J A Hallott
Alariton
Am
St
Dr.L. Howard.
Church
Cemetery
A . Hick
Rufus Proctor
E Hildreth
B. P. Drourson
B.W. Fürke
E.F Websters Store &P.O.
D.PrTham
Paint Shop
C. Proctor.
thebright Shop
Woods Saw M.
G & Wood
R. Shop
JAdas
N.P. Dadman
CHELMSFORD CENTER
10
25
So roca
DrJohn C Bartlett
PLAN OF CHELMSFORD CENTRE IN 1856
No. 40 THE GREAT ELM AT THE PUTNAM FARM, CHELMSFORD CENTRE. SEE PAGE 698
A Carlion
Mary Kimball
D.R.Emerson
Jos Heed
Hotel
B Hddretk
GD Furter
& Bickford ..
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MANUFACTURING
The company now ceased to manufacture implements of peace, and proceeded to furnish implements of war. They manufactured swords and sabres until 1865, when the company closed up its affairs.
The Hiscox File Company purchased the scythe works, and engaged in the manufacture of files and machine knives. They discontinued business about 1888.
In 1830, a dam was built above the scythe factory pond by Mr. Nathan Oliver, assisted, perhaps, by his brother, Samuel Oliver, of Lowell. They sold the water power and land to the "Chelmsford Company," by which a mill was erected for the manufacture of worsted yarn. Mr. William Calvert was the superintendent for several years. When the financial depression of 1857 came on the mill was closed. After a time, it was purchased by Isaac Farrington, of Lowell, who resumed business. It was burned, 1863, but was at once rebuilt. Business was continued by several parties until 1883, when it was again destroyed by fire, and was never rebuilt. The last operators of these mills, called the EAGLE MILLS, were T. H. Tyler and his successor, M. L. Heery.
Trains on the railroad through West Chelmsford began running July 4, 1848; soon afterwards, a post office was established, relieving the citizens from the inconvenience of going two miles to North Chelmsford for their mail. John Goss, road-master on the Boston and Lowell Railroad, was the first station agent. Captain C. Roby, Frederick T. Sawyer, associated with him in the scythe business, and William Calvert, of the Chelmsford Woolen Mills, were active in having the post office established, and the name of the place was changed to West Chelmsford. David Simons was the first postmaster. In 1852, Captain Roby was appointed postmaster, and continued in that office for thirty-four years.
CHELMSFORD GRANITE.
The H. E. Fletcher Company's quarries have furnished granite for the First National Bank of Boston, part of the Albany State Capitol, about twenty stories of the Bankers' Trust Company building in New York City, for the Camden Court House in New Jersey, for the Presbyterian church in Savannah, Georgia, for the base and approaches to the post office at New Orleans, for the Frick mansion, and many other residences on the North Shore, for the lower story of the new wings of the State House in Boston, and also many miles of curbing and paving for New England towns and cities. The granite for the lower portion of the Forsyth Dental Infirmary in Boston also came from these quarries.
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
From Geo. P. Merrill's "Stones for Building and Decoration:"
"It was not, however, until early in the present century that granite began to be used at all extensively in and about Boston, when the material was introduced in considerable quantities by canal from Chelmsford, thirty miles distant. It was from Chelms- ford stone that was constructed in 1810 the Boston Court-house; in 1814 the New South Church; and about the same time the Congregational house on Beacon street; the old Parkman house on Bowdoin square; University hall in Cambridge; and in 1818-19 the first stone block in the city, on Brattle street."
It is stated in the "Fletcher Genealogy" that Gardner Fletcher, in 1822, engaged in the stone business in Chelmsford, which he carried on successfully for twenty years. He furnished the columns for Quincy Market in Boston.
In 1837, there were seven air furnaces in Chelmsford, and one glass manufactory; the product of the latter was valued at $30,000. There were thirty hands employed; one scythe manu- factory, having a capital of $10,750, and employing twelve hands, one machine shop employing twenty hands, one hat manufactory, producing hats valued at $32,500. The population was 1,613.
The following occupations are represented in Chelmsford, as shown in the directory:
Architect, 1; Automobile Repairing, &c., 4; Bankers, 3; Binding Twines, 1; Blacksmiths, 4; Boarding Houses, 7; Boat Livery, 1; Boot and Shoemakers, 4; Box Mfg., 1; Brick Mfg., 1; Builders' Finish, 1; Markets, 2; Carpenters, 14; Carpet Yarn Mfg., 1; Carriage Mfg., 1; Cattle Dealer, 1; Chemical Mfg., 1; Cider and Vinegar Mfr., 1; Clergymen, 8; Coal and Wood, 2; Concreter, 1; Contractors, 5; Doors, Sash and Blinds, 2; Dressmakers, 6; Druggists, 2; Electrician, 1; Embalmer, 1; Express Companies, 3; Farmers, 131; Fish Dealer, 1; Florists, 1; Funeral Directors, 2; Furniture Mover, 1; Garage, 1; Gardeners, 3; General Stores, 6; Grain and Feed, 2; Granite Dealers, 6; Groceries, 5; Hotel, 1; Ice, 3; Ice Houses, 2; Insur- ance, 1; Junk, 1; Justices, 8; Landscape Gardener, 1; Laundry, 2; Lime and Cement, 1; Lumber, 6; Machine Mfg. and Repairs, 1; Market Gardeners, 9; Masons, 2; Markets, 2; Milk Dealers, 9; Notaries Public, 5; Nurserymen, 2; Nurses, 5; Leather Belting, 1; Painters, 4; Physicians, 6; Plumbers, 2; Poulterers, 11; Press Bagging Mfg., 1; Printers, 2; Produce, 1; Provisions, 5; Quarry- man, 1; Real Estate, 2; Restaurants, 2; Roofers, 3; Saw Mills, 4; Sled Mfg., 1; Soda Water, 1; Tailor, 1; Teaming, 6; Tea Dealer, 1; Tops and Noils, 1; Towels and Crashes, 1; Variety Stores, 7; Veterinary Surgeon, 1; Vinegar Mfg., 1; Well Driver, 1; Worsted Yarns, 1.
CHAPTER XVI. RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
THE FIRST PARISH.
F OR an account of the early days of the First Parish, and of Mr. Fiske and Mr. Clarke, see pages 15-29, and 65-71.
Biographies of other early ministers will be found in Chapter XIX.
For an account of the first meeting house, see pages 20 and 47.
The old meeting house was repaired in 1701-2, but was fast approaching a state of decay. Here are some items from the Town accounts.
1701 June ye 3d These are to order you [Cornet Nat. Hill] the said Treasurer to pay the Townes Depts as foloweth :
To Cornet Hill for nailes and Boards used about the
meeting Hous. £ 0:3:0:0
To Cornet Hill for Drink
0: 1:2:0
To Sargt Samll ffoster for the Decense of ye meeting House. [Decence is an obsolete word for decency.] 1:18:0:0
To the Glaziers for mending the glass about the meeting
house & for nailes 0:11:8:0
After Mr. Clark's death, various ministers preached, as will be seen from the following:
1705 June 24 To Leftenant William Fletcher Town Treasurer pray pay thes folowing sums:
To Deckon Spaldin for A companig Mr. Stodard To chelmsford and for Keeping ministers horses 5 wekes 0:10:0:0
To Cornet Hill for Minesters Entertainment at sundrey times 1:10:0:0
To yourself for four jornys tow Ipswitch one to Cam- bridg one To Woborn To Acompany Minesters to preatch with us
2: 0:0:0
To Deckon Spalding for mony paid to Mr Broadstreet .
0:12:0:0
To yourself for mony Lent the Towne
0: 4:0:0
To Muster Goodhue.
17: 0:0:0
To Leuetenant William Fletcher to entertaining Mr Goodhue
5: 0:0:0
To John perham Senor for pastering Mr Goodhues hors To Mr hanckkuk
0:16:0:0
2: 0:0:0
To Mr cuttler
1: 0:0:0
To Mr fox
1: 0:0:0
To Mr Thatcher
3:12:0:0
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
In 1700 the Town accounts show this item:
To Byeing the Coshin for the pulpet. £2:1:0:0
In 1763, Colonel Stoddard received a vote of thanks for giving the Town a "Cushing" and also a number of Psalm books. There was a box to lay the burying cloth in; also boxes to keep the cushion in, and the Town's stock of powder, &c. Mr. Bridge mentions the "paul holders."
The "burying cloth" is several times mentioned.
In 1701, Cor. Stephen Peirce, tailor, made a burying cloth, and received £0:2:6:0.
In 1703, there was an article in the Town Warrant to buy a burying cloth.
In 1794, Major John Minott gave $10 to pay for a new burying cloth.
1773, Sept. 2, it was voted to sell all the old Communion vessels, flagons, dishes and tankards, and to purchase new ones.
In 1702, the meeting house was repaired "both withoutside to keep out rain and snow, & also withinside such Inlargement as may be needful & in perticular a long table from one allee to another."
In 1705, Moses Barron was allowed to build a stable near the meeting house.
The petition "for the meting hous to be sit in the senter of the towne" was not granted. A committee was chosen "to draw a few lines and send to Mr Thatcher."
The Rev. Messrs. Goodhue and Thatcher both declined to become the minister of Chelmsford.
The Rev. Messrs. Willard, Brattle and Mather were con- sulted in regard to a man for that office. Messrs. Esterbrooks, Barnard and Broadstreet preached.
In 1706, there was a day of prayer with the elders of the neighboring towns, and a public Town Meeting was held for the election of a minister. The Rev. Samson Stoddard was ordained July 25 of that year.
THE MEETING HOUSE OF 1710-12.
1710. March 30. Voted to build a new meeting house in Chelmsford where the old meeting house stands. There was an attempt made some years previously to change the location of the meeting house to Chestnut Hill, near the geographical centre of the Town, which had some advantages, but was not favored by a great number.
Sept. 19. It was voted by the inhabitants of Chelmsford an non-concurance to those petitioners that petitioned for the removal of the meting house to the Centre or that they may be dismist acording to thar pitition.
It was also voted to choose a committee to consider the Bigness of the new meeting house, which it was decided should
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RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
be "fifty towfoots in Length and forty tow foots in Brodth and twenty four foot Between Joynts, 25 foot spar, and a terit to hang the Bell in."
Voted to choos a Comity of five men to drar up proposals how the meting hous voted to be bult in chelmsford shall be finished and ofred to the toune. Leut. Adams, Sergt. Jonathan Richardson, Moses Barron, Ephraim heldreth, Edward Spaulding are chose a comity for that purpose.
Voted a concurrence to the Comitys proposalls in all things as to finishing the meting hous which we have agreed to build in chelmsford except the stepell.
Committee for carying on the building: Jonathan Richardson, Wm. Fletcher, Corprell Wm. Fletcher, Moses Barron, Moses Barit Senr. The Town voted to give £330. of money and the "ould meting hous" and the raising of a new meting hous, for the erecting and finishing a new meting hous, the old house not to be defaced until the new be fit to meet in.
Lieut Adams, Jonathan and John Richardson, Lieut. fletcher a committee for letting out and carying on the work. "to be raised by the last of June next and to be finished by June come twelve month folowing." The money to be paid, 12 at the raising and 12 at the finishing of the house.
Stephen Richardson of Woburn "shall be sought unto to be helpfull as to raising our meeting hous with his implements proper as to such an employe." The Town stores (military, &c.) were removed from the old building when it was demolished.
To Mr. Hill innholder for the select mens expense and the County's expense at thare three severall meting about the meeting hous £2: 1:10
To Ambrose Swalow for macking 20 spickes and furells for Raising the meting hous 0:13: 4
To Sargent Saml Foster for Deceasencey in the meting hous 1:18: 0
To the select men for tending the Genorall Cort to macke answare to the petitioner about the siting the meting hous, &c.
2:3: 0
1712 The Town voted that Mr. Stoddard shall have a pue for the euse of his family at the Westerle Corner of the meeting hous and the said Stoddard relinquisheth his right in the ministerial pue.
Voted that there be an aley from the south Dore of the Meeting hous to the Decons Seate.
Voted that the coving of the meting hous shall be Paid by the Town and those that have given by subscription shall have thare money again.
To Mr. Stoddard for the Coving £2:15:3
To Sundry persons that gave towards the coving of which thare is a list 3: 4:9
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
1712. July 1, the Town accepted the building, and a com- mittee was chosen to seat the new meeting house: John Richard- son, Sergt. William Fletcher, Capt. Joseph Adams, Ephraim Hildreth, Sen., Joshua Fletcher, Jr.
Voted that the eldest persons shall be seated in the foremost seats and likewise that there be a moderate regard to estates in seating the meeting house.
To the Comitys expence to [John] Perhams [innholder] that seated the meeting hous £0: 8:8
Dec. 12 It was voted that Col. Tyng, Capt. Bowers, Capt. Baron, and Lieut. Jonathan Richardson shall have the Liberty and Benefit of making pues in that vacant Roome on the East side of the Pulpit in the new Meeting house, to the East window.
1713 .. John Bates shall have Liberty to buld a pue in the north-west corner of the Meting hous Provided it Dont Damnifie the Aley.
Capt. Adams made motion for a Pue in the south side of the meeting hous.
1713. To Jonathan Bowers for Mr Roby's preaching £1: 5:0
To William Fletcher for Mr Coton's preaching 1: 0:0
To Moses Barron for the hier of Mr Coton's horse 0: 5:0
To Jonathan Barit for fetching Mr Coton to preach 0: 5:0
1714 .. To Jon. Bradish for mending the glass in the meeting house 0:14:0
1719 Stephen Peirce, Senor, and several inhabitants of the Neck have liberty to build a stable near the meeting house. Also Left. Adams, Ensign Snow, Zach Emery and Thomas Barrett.
In this meeting house the men sat on one side and the women on the other. There was a men's gallery and a women's gallery, also men's stairs and women's stairs. Samuel Adams bought pew-room in the gallery over the men's and women's stairs.
June 20. 1729 Voted that the last bell shall be rang exactly at ten of the Clock on Sabath day mornings yearly.
Voted that the time allowed between exercises on Sabath dayes be two hours from the furst day of March to the Midle of October, and from the Midle of October unto the first day of March be one hour yearly.
1736. Left. Joseph Parker erects a pew in the S. W. corner, and another in the S. E. part near the women's door.
1737. Col. Jonas Clark erected a pew in the meeting house near Col. Tyng's pew.
Voted in Town Meeting that all heads of families direct their families to be orderly in their going out of their seats in the meeting house on Sabbath days after public worship.
1738. Mr. Gookin preached five Sundays. Mr. Chandler, Mr. Parker, Benj. Bowers and Joseph Underwood also preached during Mr. Stoddard's "weakness and inability." His death occurred August 23, 1740.
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RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
1740, Oct. 23 was a solemn fast. Committees of the Town and Church were appointed to take the advice of the neighboring ministers in regard to settling a new minister.
Mr. Thomas Bridge was invited to preach.
The Rev. Ebenezer Bridge was ordained May 20, 1741.
1753. The meeting house was repaired by clapboarding with split pine clapboards, new window frames and sashes were made, and the house new glazed. Micajah Morrill of Salisbury was employed to glaze it, and received for his services £12.
1755. For three months from April 7, Deacon Ebenezer Gould taught the first singing school in Town, and received £1.12.0 lawful money per month.
1762. An elegant folio Bible was presented to the church by Joshua Henshaw, Esq., of Boston, to be read publicly by the minister on the Lord's days. It was printed in 1739. If the practice of reading the Scriptures publicly should cease by vote of said church, the Bible was to go to the minister to be used by him and his successors. The Bible was newly bound in 1812. 1766 To Mr John Robbins providing stones for Building the New pound £6.13.4
To James Dunn for Laying up the Stones for the New pound £2.13.4
To Joseph Adams Junr. for Timber for the Gate of the pound £0. 4.0
1766 To Joseph Adams for hemp to make the Rope for the Meeting house Bell £0. 1.7.3
To John Barret for makeing a Rope for the Meeting house Bell £0. 1.0.0
To David Danforth for mending the toung of the meeting house Bell and the Latches of the meeting house Doors . £0. 2.4.3
1768. The town treasurer was to receive 12 shillings for the old iron which came off the Top of the Meeting house.
1769 for providing leather to line the Cushing in the meeting house
£0. 5.0.3
1771 To Mr Benjamin Walker for mending a Loock to the meeting house door £0.1.0.0
1776. The Town voted for "Queresters" or "Persons to Tune the Salm on Lords Days:" Deacon Ebenezer Goold, Mr. Joseph Emerson, Reuben Goold, John Freeland, Jonas Pierce, Thomas Davis, John Robbins, William Fletcher, Jr. Voted that those persons that are made choice of to tune the Salm on Sabbath Days, and others that may be Desirous to Joyn in singing may have seats by them selves. Voted that those persons made choice of for singing shall have the Liberty of the second seat in the front gallary for that purpose. This privilege was obtained with difficulty. The people were fearful of dangerous innovations.
680
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
In 1777, Thomas Thatcher preached here, and Jonathan Smith in 1789.
In 1779 Ebenezer Gould, Samuel Marshall, Phinehas Cham- berlain, and Joel Barrett were chosen to practice reading in the meeting house on the Lord's Day between meetings.
THE MEETING HOUSE OF 1792.
In 1784, some began to agitate for a new meeting house, and plans were drawn. The next year the vote was 73 to 7 in favor of the old site.
In 1789, it was voted in Town Meeting not to have the Town "sentered," i. e., not to have the meeting house placed at Chestnut hill.
In 1790, it was voted to build a new meeting house 54 feet square. This was changed to 63 by 46 feet, and in 1792 the final decision was to have it 64 by 48 feet. There was to be a projection 12 feet in length and 23 inches wide. The windows in the gallery were to be "Simecurcle." There was to be a steeple, and a "vain or wheather cock on the top of the speir." The under- pinning was to be of hewed stone two feet above the ground.
While this was building, the meetings were held in the hall at the tavern of Oliver Barron. There was to be one tier of pews round the gallery, and two rows on each side the broad alley, and 52 square pews on the floor, each 612 by 412 feet in size. They were to have bannisters, and were not to be painted. The cushion on the new pulpit was covered with baize which cost 10 shillings. The whole trimming for the pulpit cost £15. It was voted that the Town raise £400 and the old meeting house and the pews in the new, except the minister's pew, for building the new meeting house.
1791. Voted, 62 to 45, not to have the new meeting house in the center of the Town, i. e., at Chestnut hill. The sum of £300 was voted for the new building to be built "on the hill where the old meeting house now stands."
Parson Bridge records in his diary: 1791, May 15. Preached all day but omitted reading by reason of the pulpit being so wet after the rain.
"January 2, 1792. [The Town] Voted to chuse a Committee to establish the writing with those persons that shall undertake to buld the new meeting house."
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